Roof structure



Fb. 17, 1931. G. E. LIVINGSTON ET AL 1,792,543

ROOF STRUCTURE Filed July 11, 1928 IN V EN TORS .041) E. LIVINGSTON WILLIAM H.C. NESS ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 17, 1931 "PATENT,OFFICE? mass, or LOS Antennas;

' noon srnncrunn j Application filezf Jul 11,

than those specificallymentioned, are includ- 7 ed withinfits' scope.

' The character of a house is largely "exemplified in its roof. It should be eflici'ent and economical. A steep'roof covered with composition shingles, beautifully proportioned simulating tile gives the house a decidedly ornamental character. One often does not realize how important the roofis in the composition of most houses. This invention therefore pertains to an cssentiallarchitectural feature." 7

' This invention relates'to roofs and improved means for constructing the same and 26 it is an object of this invention to provide in conjunction with the improved means for securing durability; a structure whichwill also possess beauty and ornateness, thus enhancing general styles 'ofexisting architecture "a now in vogue. It isaspecial ob ect of th1s invent on to' provide a; roofing applicable to certain types of old existingro'ofs. r 1 p It is a further object of the invention to simulate certain classesof roofs "as for instance that of spanish tile. s f

Tile roofs are expensive to construct, for

in addition to the heavy timbers-requiredin supporting. them, the tiles are expensive 40 themselves and the cost of labor'required'in laying them is quiteexcessiveasthe labor has to be skilled on account of their particular mode of application. a i

It is a still further obj ect' of theinvention '45 to provide a roof simulating that as set forth in the preceding paragraph, in whicha plurality of contour members are arrangedin spaced relation overwhich are laid compo sition shinglesor the like to form'the convex side of the tile and alternating between said its more important 1928 Serial in. 291,710.

contour members are placed composition shingles which are bent in; concave fashion.

forming the valley shingles, all the shingles being fastened by prongs punched from the metal forming the contour member. s

'It is a still further object of the invention to use the fastening prongs .aforestated to maintain alignment of the shingles as they are laid in successive courses to the weather in producing a tile efl'ect.

Still another object of the invention is in the added strength supplied 'by the contour members in view of the lightness'of the ma.- terials involved and alsothe quality of their firep'roofness; a

These as well as other objects which may hereinafter appear will be set forth more? fullyin the description following, when 7 viewed with the accompanying drawings wherein: I, V I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a roof involving the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary portion of one of the contour members illustrating the position o f: the the roof,'and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a composition shingle used to illustrate by its application to the contour members in Figurel the simulation of Spanish tile. o Referring to the drawings, particularly to Figure 1, a portion of a roof is shown which is composed of 'a plurality of horizontally spaced contour members 1, to which are fastened the overlying composition shingles 2 and 2". I V l j V Herein is'specified specificallythe use of composition shingles as illustrated in Figure prongs before application of 3 on account of theirvflexibility, their ability f: to adhere when subjectedto thescorching e rays-of the meridian sun, their. quality of fireproofness and the various color nations to be had.

Yet it is tobe understood the invention is combinot to be'limited'to their use entirely, as a ing a claw 7a.

ordinarily done in flat composition roof not embodying the use of a contour member.

The contour members 1 are constructed of a light gage metal, and may be coated with suitable non-corrosive coating. They may be applied, to the roofing members 3 in any convenient and practical manner.

The roofing members 3 are the usual sheathing strips applied to roof rafters 1, such construction. being that ordinarily used in 0011- structing roots and is a roofing construction well understood. They in the present instance, however, not only support the contour members but aid in supporting the concave portion 9 of the composition shingles forming the valleys spaced therebetween.

()n account of the lightness of the contour members and the composition shingles, no rcinforcing is necessary in the application of this roof to, existing structures, the sameapplying to new structures a-siwell, yet the contour members themselves have strength which adds stiffness to the roof;

The contour members are pressed in a semi-cylindrical fashion, having aconvex surface, the curvature of which is similar and simulating that of Spanish tiles. They have a flanged edge 5, Son either side whereby to fasten the contour member rigidly to the sheathing strips 3. They are spaced in fixed relation as will be more fully hereinafter described and; extend longitudinally upwardly and downwardly of the roof.

Furthermore the contour members extending longitudinally upwardly and down Wa-rdly of the root, not only serve the purpose of simulating tile ridges but add counter-strength to the roof and at the same time decreasing the temperature absorbing qualities of the roof. i

Integral with said contour members are provided meansior connecting the composition shingles andcontour members together, said means consisting of prongs 6, 7 and 8 punched from the metal, said prongs being adapted to be bent over the sides'and ends of the shingles as fully illustrated in Figure 1, thereby clinching the shingles to the contour members.

Theprongs are desirably arranged in sets of three, the central prong 7 of each set hav Said prong 7 being adapted for bending down longitudinally upon the crest. portion of the convexity of the sheet metal contour member from which it is struck up and the prongs 6 and 8 are disposed laterally to said prong 7 said prongs 6 and 8 being adapted to be bent down laterally over the side edges of the shingles 9. The prongs 7 are ada-ptedfor bending over the end edges of the flexible bridging shingles 2 and piercing the same with the claw 7. It is obvious the prongs 6 and 8 also could be provided with claws 7 In laying the shingles after the contour members 1 have been spaced, the shingles 2 forming the valleys of the first and lower course are bent in concave fashion so that the bottom portion of the shingle at its midwidth will rest upon the sheathing strip as indicated by the numeral 9.

The prongs 8 are then bent over, the sides thereof holding it in place. It is obvious, that were the shingles made into a continuous strip, the prongs wouldhave to pierce the material.

The bridging shingles 2a are then superposed over the valley shingles 2 and fastened in place by means of the center prong 7 and its claw 7a as indicated by the numeral 10 and this center prong should be set just slightly in advance of the prongs 6 and 8 so as to be able to clinch over the end of the shingle 2a without cutting thereinto, while the prongs 6 and 8 clinch over the side. edges of the valley shingle 2 lying therebeneath.

The prong 7 with: its claw as shown at 10, clinches the upper edge of thebridging shingles 2a to the contour members 1 and the prong 7 together with the consecutive courses of over lapping valley shingles 2 resting partly upon it restrain the remaining portion from curling up. Obviously theprong 7 may also be utilized to preserve alinement of the shingles when desired.

It will be noted that only every other center prong is-used in clinching, yet the same is provided at the sametime to avoid the use of an extra die.

The succeeding courses of shingles are laid in like manner and the number laid to the weather will be determined by climatic; con,- ditions and the taste ot the architect.

The heat'from the sun soon amalgamates theentire structure in a composite mass.

Any rain or moisture getting on the roof will be carried from one row of shingles to the next so that it will not pass under the shingles. Even where water might accumulate in some quantity on the roof,,it would hardly bedeep' enough to passup under and over the edges of the shingles forming the valleys which are overlapped by the superposed shingles.

Usually this water sheddingis determined by the pitch of the roof. The prongs. are secured beneath the shingles so thatnone are accessible to the moisture.

The shingles 2' and 2" being arranged in rows in overlapping fashion, as shown in Figure 1, form an ornamental appearance and relieves the monotony of an otherwise plain surface roof, and: when viewed at a distance closely simulates the appearance of a tile roof. r

In breaking the joints between shingles or strips of roofing after-thescheme herein pro.- mulgated, it will be clear that the joints can beeasily, quickly and efiiciently madewithout the use of nails exposed to the weather and being bendable axially of said member and the adhesive properties of the shingles insure a tight seam at the overlapping joints and a waterproof seam is insured without the use of cement or other adhesive material.

A roof as herein set forth will furnish a more elaborate and pretentious setting when silhouetted against a dark background and intercepting all the shifting lights and shadows.

A beautiful, ornamental and durable roof may thus be produced at a very nominal cost.

We claim:

1. In a roofing structure, the combination with flexible shingles, of an elongated concavo-convex sheet metal shingle supporting member having at the crest of its convexity a prong struck up which is adapted to be bent down longitudinally of said member over the end edge of a shingle and a side prong at each side of the first mentioned prong, said side prong being adapted for bending down toward the long edge of said member over the side edge of another shingle.

2. As an article of manufacture, a shingle supporting contour member consisting of an elongated strip of sheet metal having an arched portion throughout its length and a foot flange along each side edge thereof, and.

prongs extending outwardly from the convexity of said arch, said prongs being punched from the metal, some of said prongs others being bendable'transversely thereof.

3. In combination with a supporting structure, a plurality of elongated contour members in parallel spaced formation having an arched portion throughout their mid-width and a foot flange along each side thereof, valley shingles. overlapping the adjacent edges of said contour members, and-bridging shingles covering the space intervening between said valley shingles andoverlapping the latter shingles, prongsprojecting outwardly from the arched portion of said contour members and bendable axially over the. side edge portions of said valley' shingles and transversely over the end edge portion of said bridge shingle.

4. As an article of manufacture, a shinglesupporting contour member having an arched portion throughout its mid-width and a foot-flange along each side thereof, and

prongs extending outwardly from the convexity of said arch, some of said prongs being bendable axially of said member and others being bendable transversely thereof, some of said prongs having terminal claw portions to project into the shingles. v s

In testimony whereof, we hereunto affix our signatures to this specification.

, GUY EDGAR LIVINGSTON.

WILLIAM HENRY CLAY NESS. 

